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Background: An accurate perception of death risk is a prerequisite for advanced cancer patients to make informed end-of-life care decisions. However, there is to date no suitable scale to measure death risk perception. This study was to develop and psychometrically test the death risk perception scale (DRPS) for advanced cancer patients. Methods: Process of instrument development and psychometric evaluation were used. First, qualitative research, a literature review, brainstorming, a Delphi study, and cognitive interviews were conducted to construct a pretest scale of death risk perception. Second, a scale-based survey was administered to 479 advanced cancer patients. Item, exploratory factor, and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to optimize the scale. The Cronbach's alpha was calculated as a reliability analysis. The validity analysis included construct, convergent, discriminant, and content validity values. Results: A three-dimension, 12-item scale was developed, including deliberative, affective, and experiential risk perception. The confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor model with satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity levels. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was 0.807 and scale-level content validity index was 0.98. Conclusions: The 12-item DRPS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the level of death risk perception in advanced cancer patients. More studies are needed to examine its structure and robustness prior to use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarizes the best available evidence on the effects of death education in palliative care for cancer patients. A systematic literature review was conducted across 9 databases, revealing 22 eligible studies (N = 2,374). After two reviewers independently engaged in study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction, the results were synthesized through qualitative and quantitative analysis. Overall, the focus on death education for cancer patients showed an upward trend and consistently demonstrated significant positive effects with regards to the control of anxiety and depression, attitudes toward death, and quality of life. However, high-quality evidence regarding the effects of death education on cancer patients is lacking, warranting additional well-designed rigorous studies and standardized programs with specific and feasible steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An accurate perception of death risk is a prerequisite for advanced cancer patients to make informed end-of-life care decisions. However, there is to date no suitable scale to measure death risk perception. This study was to develop and psychometrically test the death risk perception scale (DRPS) for advanced cancer patients. Methods: Process of instrument development and psychometric evaluation were used. First, qualitative research, a literature review, brainstorming, a Delphi study, and cognitive interviews were conducted to construct a pretest scale of death risk perception. Second, a scale-based survey was administered to 479 advanced cancer patients. Item, exploratory factor, and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to optimize the scale. The Cronbach's alpha was calculated as a reliability analysis. The validity analysis included construct, convergent, discriminant, and content validity values. Results: A three-dimension, 12-item scale was developed, including deliberative, affective, and experiential risk perception. The confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor model with satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity levels. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was 0.807 and scale-level content validity index was 0.98. Conclusions: The 12-item DRPS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the level of death risk perception in advanced cancer patients. More studies are needed to examine its structure and robustness prior to use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fatigue behavior of large wind turbine blades is complex and stochastic due to their complex structure and operating environment. This paper focuses on developing a probabilistic fatigue life assessment method for wind turbine blades considering the uncertainties from wind velocity, material mechanical properties, pitch angle, and layer thickness. To improve the efficiency of stochastic fatigue behavior analysis of wind turbine blade, unidirectional fluid‐structure coupling (UFSC) and bidirectional fluid‐structure coupling (BFSC) analysis are employed to analyze the stochastic response. Then, Gaussian process regression (GPR) and Bayesian updating are combined to establish the stochastic fatigue behavior prediction model for wind turbine blade. On this basis, a modified S‐N curve formulation is proposed, and the fatigue life of wind turbine blade is analyzed by the modified S‐N curve and compared with the three‐parameter Weibull model. The results indicate that the proposed method for fatigue life assessment has better accuracy. The proposed probabilistic fatigue life assessment method with high accuracy and high efficiency, which is beneficial for the fatigue reliability design of wind turbine blades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microblade assemblages are among the most common prehistoric archaeological materials found on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and are thought to indicate large scale migration to and settlement of the TP. Few microblade sites, however, have been systematically excavated, especially in the remotest, highest-elevation regions of the TP. The timing of the large-scale arrival, spread, and permanent settlement of people on the TP therefore remains controversial. In this paper, we report on a recently excavated site, Locality 3 of the Nwya Devu Site (ND3), located at 4600 meters above sea level (masl), near the shore of Ngoin Lake, on the interior TP. Our analyses reveal a fairly typical microblade technological orientation and two types of microblade cores: wedge-shaped and semi-conical, which are similar to those found throughout North China. Using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating and AMS 14C dating, the age of ND3 ranges from 11 to 10 ka. This date range indicates ND3 is the oldest microblade site yet recorded in the remote, high-elevation regions of the TP and thus provides important information about when and how hunter-gatherers using microblades began exploiting the higher altitudes of the TP. Taken together, studies at ND3 and throughout the TP suggest that a microblade adaptation is associated with the first prolonged human occupation of the plateau and that microblades played a significant role in mediating the risks and facilitating the mobility necessary to permanently inhabit the TP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuproptosis and ferroptosis hold great promise for overcoming apoptotic resistance in liver cancer based on their unique metal‐driven cell death modalities. However, insufficient intracellular copper and iron concentration, complicated tumor microenvironment (TME), and unclear cross‐regulatory mechanisms between cuproptosis and ferroptosis, severely restrict the therapeutic performance. Herein, copper‐doped hollow Prussian blue (CHP) nanozymes are rationally designed for loading photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) and O2‐saturated perfluorohexane (PFH), denoted as O2‐PFH@CHPI nanoparticles, to induce cuproptosis and ferroptosis. In response to the specific TME, the CHP nanozymes can synergistically catalyze Fenton reactions and consume endogenous glutathione, leading to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Upon near‐infrared irradiation, the O2‐PFH@CHPI‐enabled photothermal effect can simultaneously accelerate catalytic reactions and trigger O2 release for photodynamic therapy to promote oxidative stress. Notably, cuproptosis can be effectively activated through Cu+‐mediated dihydrolipoamide S‐acetyltransferase aggregation and Fe–S cluster protein loss. Concurrently, the tilt of redox balance is favorable for lipid peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase 4 inactivation, resulting in an augmented ferroptosis effect. Mechanistically, oxidative stress‐boosted cuproptosis and ferroptosis jointly disrupt mitochondrial metabolism, which in turn exacerbates intracellular oxidative stress, thus realizing a mutually enhanced therapeutic effect. This work may provide new guidance for utilizing copper/ferrous‐engineering nanozymes for cuproptosis/ferroptosis synergetic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by various enteroviruses is a major public health concern globally. Human enterovirus 71(EVA71), coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16), coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6), and coxsackievirus A10 (CVA10) are four major enteroviruses responsible for HFMD. Rapid, accurate, and specific point-of-care (POC) detection of the four enteroviruses is crucial for the prevention and control of HFMD. Here, we developed two multiplex high-fidelity DNA polymerase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (mHiFi-LAMP) assays for simultaneous detection of EVA71, CVA16, CVA6, and CVA10. The assays have good specificity and exhibit high sensitivity, with limits of detection (LOD) of 11.2, 49.6, 11.4, and 20.5 copies per 25 μL reaction for EVA71, CVA16, CVA6, and CVA10, respectively. The mHiFi-LAMP assays showed an excellent clinical performance (sensitivity 100.0%, specificity 83.3%, n = 47) when compared with four singleplex RT-qPCR assays (sensitivity 93.1%, specificity 100%). In particular, the HiFi-LAMP assays exhibited better performance (sensitivity 100.0%, specificity 100%) for CVA16 and CVA6 than the RT-qPCR assays (sensitivity 75.0–92.3%, specificity 100%). Furthermore, the mHiFi-LAMP assays detected all clinical samples positive for the four enteroviruses within 30 min, obviously shorter than about 1–1.5 h by the RT-qPCR assays. The new mHiFi-LAMP assays can be used as a robust point-of-care testing (POCT) tool to facilitate surveillance of HFMD at rural and remote communities and resource-limited settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through an interesting physical perspective and a certain contraction of the Ricci curvature tensor in Finsler geometry, Akbar-Zadeh introduced the concept of scalar curvature for the Finsler metric. In this paper, we show that the Kropina metric is of isotropic scalar curvature if and only if F is an Einstein metric according to the navigation data. Moreover, we obtain the three-dimensional rigidity theorem for an Einstein–Kropina metric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timing and mechanisms of the human occupation of the demanding high-altitude Tibetan Plateau environment are of great interest. Here, we report on our reinvestigations and dating of the Nwya Devu site, located nearly 4600 meters above sea level on the central Tibetan Plateau. A new microblade techno-complex was identified on a lower lake shore at this site, distinct from the previously reported blade tool assemblage. These two lithic assemblages were dated to 45.6±2.6 and 10.3±0.5 ka using optically stimulated luminescence and accelerator mass spectrometry 14C methods. They represent, respectively, the earliest known Paleolithic and microlithic sites on the interior Tibetan Plateau, indicating multiple occupation episodes of hunter-gatherers during the past 45 ka. Our studies reveal that relatively stable depositional conditions and a paleoenvironment characterized by a comparatively warm climate facilitated these multiple occupations at Nwya Devu. The contemporaneous occurrence of the Upper Paleolithic blade technology on the Tibetan Plateau and most of Eurasia between 50 and 40 ka indicates rapid, large-scale dispersals of humans that profoundly affected human demography on a large scale. Combining new archaeological evidence and previously reported genetic data, we conclude that the Tibetan Plateau provided a relatively stable habitat for Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherers, which may have contributed to the complex and multiple-origin gene pool of present-day Tibetans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thunderstorm high wind (THW) is defined as a kind of convective weather phenomenon with a maximum wind gust speed not less than 17.2 m·s−1 over China. It is a sudden, damaging, but common convective weather phenomenon during the warm seasons of China. By adopting a kernel density estimation (KDE) for the THWs during warm seasons (March–September) of 2010–2019 over eastern China and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) dataset, the dry and wet THWs usually with different mechanisms are objectively obtained, and climatology and pre-convection environmental conditions investigated. KDE shows the total precipitable water (TPW) of 38 mm can be used as the threshold for distinguishing dry THWs from wet ones. Dry THWs mainly concentrate in North China and Yunnan province, while wet ones mainly concentrate in South China. West of Hebei province has high frequencies for both dry and wet THWs. A comparison of pre-convection environmental conditions shows dry THWs mainly occur under environmental conditions with lower saturation at both the middle-lower and upper layers, while wet ones usually have relatively lower saturation at the middle-lower layers. The instability of wet THWs can be well characterized by the most unstable lifted index (MULI) and most unstable convective available potential energy (MUCAPE), while dry ones can be well depicted by the lower 500 hPa temperature caused higher temperature difference (DT85) or temperature lapse rate (TLR85) between 850 and 500 hPa. The 0–6-km vertical wind shear (SHR6) can distinguish dry THWs from wet ones better than SHR1. The typical difference can be comprehensively revealed by the representative soundings. The results provide objective references for understanding and forecasting THWs under dry and wet environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat stripe rust, triggered by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is among the most widespread and damaging wheat (Triticum L.) diseases. The development of cultivars harboring adult plant resistance (APR) to stripe rust is a better approach to control the disease. The current study aimed to map APR to stripe rust via the QTL mapping of 165 F2–6 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derivatives of Weimai 8/Zhengzhou 5389. The collection of phenotypic data for the stripe-rust resistance of both parents and all 165 RILs were conducted at Baoding, Hebei Province, during the 2016–2017 cropping seasons, and at Mianyang, Sichuan Province, during the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 sowing seasons. The RIL populations and parents were also genotyped with 860 pairs of simple-sequence-repeat (SSR) primers to map APR QTLs to stripe-rust resistant. Moreover, a 55K SNP chip was used for small group bulk segregant analysis conducted to locate the genetic map location and concentration of the SNP markers on the wheat genome. Inclusive composite interval mapping (IciMapping 3.2) software identified four QTLs of stripe-rust resistance on chromosomes 1B, 2AS, 2BS, and 7DS, named QYr.wmy-1B, QYr.wmy-2AS, QYr.wmy-2BS, and QYr.wmy-7DS, which significantly explained 11.56–16.64%, 9.35–12.70%, 7.27–9.95%, and 11.49–15.07% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. All these QTLs were found from the resistant parent, Weimai 8. Meanwhile, the QTLs located on chromosomes 1B and 2AS were found close to Yr18 and Yr9, respectively. Furthermore, the results indicated that QYr.wmy-1B is possibly Yr9 and QYr.wmy-2AS is similar to Yr18 or might be a new QTL, whilst QYr.wmy-2BS and QYr.wmy-7DS were found to be different from previously reported stripe-rust-resistance QTLs and are possibly new QTLs. Overall, the QTLs and their closely associated molecular markers detected in this study could be a great source of input for marker-assisted selection to adult plant stripe-rust resistance in wheat-breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "BMC Palliat Care 23, 136 (2024)" in the BMC Palliative Care issue discusses the addition of equal contribution acknowledgment for the first and second authors, Guojuan Chen and Xiaoling Zhang.

Magnetic studies of loess–paleosol sequences have shown that the magnetic properties of loess and its parent material are sensitive to weathering degree. However, the relationship between magnetic properties and weathering processes in red soils of southern China remains unclear due to the diversity of parent rocks and the influence of climate. This study focused on red soils developed on weakly magnetic sandstone, in tropical and subtropical regions of Yunnan, China. The principal element content, magnetic susceptibility, temperature-dependent susceptibility curve (χ–T curve, where χ represents the magnetic susceptibility at the corresponding temperature during the heating and cooling process of the sample, and T represents the temperature during the heating and cooling process.), hysteresis loop and Isothermal Remanent Magnetization (IRM) of the samples were determined, the weathering characteristics and magnetic properties of profile samples were analyzed, and their relationship was examined, as well as the impact of climate change on fine-grained ferrimagnetic minerals and magnetic properties. The results revealed that red soils developed on weakly magnetic sandstone exhibited significant correlations between three magnetic indices, low-frequency magnetic susceptibility (χlf), frequency-dependent susceptibility (χfd), (χpost-pre + χd)/χpara, and the silica-sesquioxide ratio (SAF), indicating that these indices can be used to assess soil weathering. Additionally, this study proposed a new index based on the 1 < Log10Bh < 1.5 mT component obtained from decomposition of the IRM curve, which can also be used to assess soil weathering. The enhancement of magnetic properties in red soils along a single profile was found to be related to the increase in the content of fine-grained ferrimagnetic com-ponents controlled by weathering. Comparing the two climatic regions, it was found that in Yunnan, China, as the climate changes from subtropical humid to tropical humid, the weathering of the red soil profiles becomes stronger, and the fine-grained ferrimagnetic components increase, indirectly enhancing the magnetic properties of red soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theories surrounding the three circuits of capital have been extensively studied and developed within the context of developed countries. However, there is a scarcity of empirical evidence from the developing world. China, as the largest developing economy, has experienced rapid urbanization with population migration and capital flow, which has garnered significant attention. In light of these circumstances, this study aims to analyze the temporal dynamics of capital switching between the three circuits and utilizes panel regression analysis to explore their growth effects and driving forces across Chinese provinces. This study reveals several notable observations. Firstly, it is evident that most provinces have witnessed the capital switching out of the production sphere. Secondly, regarding the impact of three circuits of capital on urbanization transformation, a sequence characteristic is observed. Specifically, the primary and secondary circuits of capital have initially displayed a weakening positive effect on urban economic growth, which eventually becomes statistically insignificant. Conversely, the tertiary circuit of capital exhibits a robust and continuously significant positive impact. Lastly, the determinants differ across three circuits of capital. The local fiscal deficit is found to have a significant positive effect on the primary circuit, while the scale of social credit stands out as the most notable factor for the tertiary circuit of capital. Moreover, the study uncovers the significant role played by institutional factors and financial development in promoting the secondary circuit of capital and facilitating fixed investment in the urban built environment. These findings have important implications for enhancing capital flow and achieving the goal of new-type urbanization in China. It also highlights the importance of creating a favorable institutional environment that encourages investment and fosters a thriving financial sector. • Most provinces have experienced the capital switching out of the production sphere. • The effects of the three circuits of capital on urban economic growth display 'sequence characteristics'. • Fiscal deficit and social credit have significant positive effects on the primary and tertiary circuits, respectively. • Both institutional factors and financial development play a significant role in promoting the secondary circuit of capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SARS-CoV-2, a member of the coronavirus family, causes COVID-19, which can range from the ordinary cold to the rare but fatal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Disease (MERS). Radiologists can better diagnose COVID-19 using deep learning and computer vision techniques. However, training requires large centralized datasets. In addition, medical data protection prevents centralized server training with medical data. In this study, we propose a federated learning-based framework, Cov-Fed, to facilitate decentralized training of medical data. Cov-Fed is characterized by the proposed Multi-Efficient Channel Attention Network (MECAN) and a multi-model user-server weight update mechanism, respectively. In addition, Cov-Fed leverages PySyft encryption and decryption mechanisms for privacy preservation. Due to the salient nature of features corresponding to viruses, the classification of x-ray scans is challenging. Hence, we propose a multi-ECA attention mechanism embedded in the Cov-Fed to enhance feature maps of chest X-ray scans for classification without compromising performance. Extensive experiments are conducted on several public medical datasets and compared with some state-of-the-art models. Based on several evaluation metrics, Cov-Fed exhibited satisfactory performance with an average accuracy of 87. 65 % , an inference time of 92. 8 s , and ROC-AUC of 92. 46 % compared with some state-of-the-art models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial infarction (MI) results in prolonged ischemia and the subsequent cell death leads to heart failure which is linked to increased deaths or hospitalizations. New therapeutic targets are urgently needed to prevent cell death and reduce infarct size among patients with MI. Runt-related transcription factor-1 (RUNX1) is a master-regulator transcription factor intensively studied in the hematopoietic field. Recent evidence showed that RUNX1 has a critical role in cardiomyocytes post-MI. The increased RUNX1 expression in the border zone of the infarct heart contributes to decreased cardiac contractile function and can be therapeutically targeted to protect against adverse cardiac remodelling. This study sought to investigate whether pharmacological inhibition of RUNX1 function has an impact on infarct size following MI. In this work we demonstrate that inhibiting RUNX1 with a small molecule inhibitor (Ro5-3335) reduces infarct size in an in vivo rat model of acute MI. Proteomics study using data-independent acquisition method identified increased cathepsin levels in the border zone myocardium following MI, whereas heart samples treated by RUNX1 inhibitor present decreased cathepsin levels. Cathepsins are lysosomal proteases which have been shown to orchestrate multiple cell death pathways. Our data illustrate that inhibition of RUNX1 leads to reduced infarct size which is associated with the suppression of cathepsin expression. This study demonstrates that pharmacologically antagonizing RUNX1 reduces infarct size in a rat model of acute MI and unveils a link between RUNX1 and cathepsin-mediated cell death, suggesting that RUNX1 is a novel therapeutic target that could be exploited clinically to limit infarct size after an acute MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study aimed to promote nurses' compliance with best practices for dysphagia screening in patients with stroke. Introduction: Dysphagia can significantly increase the risk of complications, especially aspiration pneumonia, leading to increased risk of disability, death, and high medical expenses. Dysphagia screening can reduce aspiration risk and is recommended as a crucial step in dysphagia management; however, not all patients with stroke undergo dysphagia screening in the neurology ward. Methods: The JBI Evidence Implementation Framework was used in this study. A baseline audit was conducted by interviewing 22 nurses and reviewing 48 medical records to evaluate current practice against best practice recommendations. The JBI Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) tool was used to identify barriers and strategies for practice change. A follow-up audit of 19 nurses and 48 medical records was conducted after implementation of improvement strategies. Results: The follow-up audit results showed improvement in three criteria compared with the baseline audit: for Criterion 1, compliance increased by 27.3%, rising from 72.7% to 100%; for Criteria 3 and 4, compliance increased by 77.1%, rising from 20.8% to 97.9%. The difference in nurses' knowledge, attitude, and behavior scores for dysphagia screening between the baseline and follow-up audits was statistically significant (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: The project showed improvements in evidence-based practice in the dysphagia screening of stroke patients in a neurology ward. However, more work needs to be done to ensure the sustainability of best practices, such as regular training for nurses, supervision from managers, and regular audits of dysphagia screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban heat waves pose a significant risk to the health and safety of city dwellers, with urbanization potentially amplifying the health impact of extreme heat. Accurate assessments of population heat exposure hinge on the interplay between temperature, population spatial dynamics, and the epidemiological effects of temperature on health. Yet, many past studies have over-simplified the matter by assuming static populations, leading to substantial inaccuracies in heat exposure assessments. To address these issues, this study integrates dynamic population data, fluctuating temperature, and the exposure-response relationship between temperature and health to construct an advanced heat exposure assessment framework predicated on a population dynamic model. We analyzed urban heat island characteristics, population dynamics, and heat exposure during heat wave conditions in Beijing, a major city in China. Our findings highlight significant intra-day population movement between urban and suburban areas during heat wave conditions, with spatial population flow patterns showing clear scale-dependent characteristics. These population flow dynamics intensify heat exposure levels, and the disparity between dynamic population-weighted temperature and average temperature is most pronounced at night. Our research provides a more comprehensive understanding of real urban population heat exposure levels and can furnish city administrators with more scientifically rigorous evidence. [Display omitted] • Urban heat waves pose a significant risk to the health and safety of city dwellers • Population movement between urban and suburban areas is obvious in megacities • Movement of people between places of work and residence modifies the heat exposure • A dynamic population risk assessment index for heat exposure was developed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental characteristics of internal forces and deformations in the directional distribution of granular materials, it is necessary to investigate the directional distribution of particles on the mechanical properties and microstructural evolution process of the soil. The discrete element particle flow program PFC3D is used to construct the particle with the same aspect ratio, convexity, and sphericity as the binary images, and the specimens with directional particle distributions of 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° are generated. Furthermore, the quantitative correlations between the constitutive parameters and the deposition angle are examined. The results show that the shear strength and shear expansion of the soil increase with increasing deposition angle. With an increase in axial strain, the dominant direction of contact points and the direction of force chain and normal contact force rotate counterclockwise. In the critical state, the microstructural direction of the specimens with different deposition angles is approximately the same, which is primarily along the direction of 45° + ϕcs. The critical friction angle decays as a power function with the increase of deposition angle in undrained tests. The critical void ratios of the specimens with different deposition angles under drained tests decay linearly as the deposition angle increases. The critical mechanical coordination number decays exponentially with an increase in deposition angle under undrained tests. The conclusions mentioned above serve as a guide for revising the constitutive equations for specimens considering the microscopic behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sequential rollout of diverse climate policies by national and local governing bodies has sparked a series of concerns regarding their efficacy and long-term impact. These policies function either as constraints or incentives within the carbon market eco-trading system. This study aims to bridge gaps in quantitative analysis of climate policy interactions by employing the Stackelberg game model to explore various policy mix and their impacts on both national and regional conditions. It explored the effects of seven types of policy packages (including reduction targets, free allowance allocations, guideline prices, and their mixed scenarios) on regional and national economic growth and decarbonization targets. Moreover, fine-grained example analyses based on China's carbon markets were used to capture these win-win signals. The results show that: (1) when accounting for regional disparities, a waterbed effect emerges, implying that no scenario can simultaneously achieve both accelerated net profit growth and significant emission reductions across all regions. (2) Interactions among climate policies may yield strengthening, overlapping, or weakening effects compared to the business- as -usual scenario. However, it is crucial to note that these effects typically exhibit an inverse relationship between net profit growth and emission reductions. (3) Carbon trading prices act as public signals that assist policymakers in determining the Stackelberg-Nash equilibrium points to pursue optimized net profits under emission constraints. Hence, policymakers are encouraged to embrace comprehensive, sustainable solutions, ensuring ongoing monitoring and timely policy adaptations that strike a balance between economic growth and emission reduction regarding regional disparities. • Climate policies interact, causing strengthening, overlapping, or weakening effects. • Carbon trading prices play as public signals in the process behind the game. • Total net profit growth entails emission increases or exacerbating regional inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the discrete element particle flow program PFC3D, an undrained cyclic triaxial numerical model is established to investigate the large strain dynamic characteristics and liquefaction behaviors of the loose sand under stress amplitude-controlled and strain amplitude-controlled tests. The results demonstrate that the value of micro parameters at the initial liquefaction moment are the same under the two control modes. The whole cyclic loading process of both loading control methods can be divided into different zones based on the evolution of the micro parameters. In studying the movement state of soil particles after initial liquefaction, the strain amplitude-controlled test is more comprehensive to observe the development process of microstructure. The peak value of the damping ratio calculated by the typical symmetrical hysteresis loop method is around 0.5% of the deviatoric strain, while is around 1.0% of the deviatoric strain when considering the asymmetry of the stress–strain hysteresis loop. In stress amplitude-controlled tests, the phase transition and large flow-slip behavior of the loose sand will result in an unclear peak of the damping ratio. In this context, strain amplitude-controlled tests can be advantageous for the study of loose sand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the discrete element particle flow software PFC3D, four irregular particles with the same aspect ratio, convexity, and sphericity as the binary pictures are constructed. To examine the influence mechanisms of particle shape on mechanical properties, microstructure, and critical characteristics, an index F characterizing the regularity of the particle shape is introduced. By examining the link between the regularity index and the constitutive parameter, a statistical model is developed to predict the peak friction angle while considering the impacts of relative density and particle shape. The findings demonstrate that decreasing the value of the regularity index always causes an increase in the stress ratio, shear dilatancy, and void ratio. In p' - q , e -log p' , and MCN -log p' spaces, the distribution pattern of critical state lines is affected by the particle shape. At the same strain instant, when the particle becomes more irregular, the distribution direction of the maximum contact force of irregular particles tends to be more horizontal to resist the greater external loads. In comparison to spherical particles, the Δ q/p' and Δ φ p of irregular particles increase linearly with the increase of Δ F. The measured and predicted values of the peak friction angle for the statistical model are essentially consistent. The critical parameters e cs 、 η cs 、 φ cs 、 MCN cs decrease linearly with the increase of the regularity index. The above conclusions serve as a guide for revising the empirical formula. • Four irregular particles in 3D are constructed following the binary images in test. • An index F describing the regularity of the particle shape is introduced. • The relationships between the F and constitutive parameters are explored. • A statistical model is developed to predict the peak friction angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of the study is to construct meaningful nomogram models according to the independent prognostic factor for metastatic pancreatic cancer receiving chemotherapy. Methods: This study is retrospective and consecutively included 143 patients from January 2013 to June 2021. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with the area under the curve (AUC) is utilized to determine the optimal cut‐off value. The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, univariate and multivariable Cox regression analysis are exploited to identify the correlation of inflammatory biomarkers and clinicopathological features with survival. R software are run to construct nomograms based on independent risk factors to visualize survival. Nomogram model is examined using calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: The best cut‐off values of 966.71, 0.257, and 2.54 for the systemic immunological inflammation index (SII), monocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were obtained by ROC analysis. Cox proportional‐hazards model revealed that baseline SII, history of drinking and metastasis sites were independent prognostic indices for survival. We established prognostic nomograms for primary endpoints of this study. The nomograms' predictive potential and clinical efficacy have been evaluated by calibration curves and DCA. Conclusion: We constructed nomograms based on independent prognostic factors, these models have promising applications in clinical practice to assist clinicians in personalizing the management of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is no consensus regarding the most appropriate management of suspected malignant pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs). Objective: We aimed to explore the feasibility and safety of synchronous computed tomography-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) and microwave ablation (MWA) for patients highly suspicious of having malignant GGNs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records between July 2020 and April 2023 from our medical center. Eligible patients synchronously underwent PTNB and MWA (either MWA immediately after PTNB [PTNB-first group] or PTNB immediately after MWA [MWA-first group]) at the the physician's discretion. We analyzed the rate of definitive diagnosis and technical success, the length of hospital stay, the postoperative efficacy, and periprocedural complications. Results: Of 65 patients who were enrolled, the rate of definitive diagnosis was 86.2%, which did not differ when stratified by the tumor size, the consolidation-to-tumor ratio, or the sequence of the two procedures (all p > 0.05). The diagnostic rate of malignancy was 83.1%. After the median follow-up duration of 18.5 months, the local control rate was 98.2% and the rate of completed ablation was 48.2%. The rate of perioperative minor and major complications was 44.6% and 6.2%, respectively. The most common adverse events included pain, cough, and mild hemorrhage. Mild hemorrhage took place significantly less frequently in the MWA-first group than in the PTNB-first group (16.7% vs. 45.5%, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Synchronous PTNB and MWA are feasible and well tolerated for patients highly suspicious of having malignant GGNs, providing an alternative option for patients who are ineligible for surgical resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sows commonly experience insulin resistance in late gestation and lactation, causing lower feed intake and milk production, which can lead to higher mortality rates in newborn piglets. The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is known to improve insulin resistance. However, whether supplementing LGG can improve insulin sensitivity in sows and enhance lactation performance, particularly the early survival of offspring remains unclear. Hence, we explored the effects and mechanisms of supplementing LGG during late gestation and lactation on sow insulin sensitivity, lactation performance, and offspring survival. In total, 20 sows were randomly allocated to an LGG (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Results: In sows, LGG supplementation significantly improved insulin sensitivity during late gestation and lactation, increased feed intake, milk production and colostrum lactose levels in early lactation, and enhanced newborn piglet survival. Moreover, LGG treatment significantly reshaped the gut microbiota in sows, notably increasing microbiota diversity and enriching the relative abundance of insulin sensitivity-associated probiotics such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides. Serum metabolite and amino acid profiling in late-gestation sows also revealed decreased branched-chain amino acid and kynurenine serum levels following LGG supplementation. Further analyses highlighted a correlation between mitigated insulin resistance in late pregnancy and lactation by LGG and gut microbiota reshaping and changes in serum amino acid metabolism. Furthermore, maternal LGG enhanced immunity in newborn piglets, reduced inflammation, and facilitated the establishment of a gut microbiota. Conclusions: We provide the first evidence that LGG mitigates insulin resistance in sows and enhances offspring survival by modulating the gut microbiota and amino acid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis and cuproptosis are emerging modes of programmed cell death and have been increasingly used to eliminate tumor cells. However, converting ferroptosis/cuproptosis into effective treatments is challenging because of the inherent antioxidant and plasma membrane repair systems and inefficient copper ion delivery. Herein, an engineered doping method is developed to encapsulate ZnO2 with Cu2+‐doped ZIF‐8 and modify the surface by transferrin (Tf). In the resulting ZnO2@Cu/ZIF‐8‐Tf nanosystem, Tf specifically binds to transferrin receptors for targeting and aggregation. In the tumor microenvironment, Cu2+/Fe3+ is released from the nanosystem and reacted with glutathione (GSH) to produce Cu+/Fe2+. Excessive accumulation of Cu+ interfered with the tricarboxylic acid cycle and induced coproptosis. Furthermore, the additional Fe2+ caused iron overload and enhanced ferroptosis. ZnO2 supplied hydrogen peroxide to mediate the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, the depletion of GSH deactivated glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and inhibited the system Xc−‐GSH‐GPX4 pathway, and the amplified ROS triggered lipid peroxidation and reprogrammed lipid metabolism, causing malfunctioning of both antioxidant and membrane repair systems. In summary, the ferroptosis/cuproptosis pathways are activated at multiple levels in the ZnO2@Cu/ZIF‐8‐Tf nanosystem, which ensures its outstanding antitumor effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As an actin cytoskeleton interactor, PDZ (postsynaptic density 65-discs large-zonula occludens 1) and LIM (abnormal cell lineage 11-isket 1-mechanosensory abnormal 3) domain protein 7 (PDLIM7) was supposed to play an essential role modulating cytoskeleton. Focal adhesions (FAs), which are located at the cytomembrane terminus of actin cytoskeleton, function as a force sensor and can transform the mechanical signal to a biochemical signal. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) localizes to and regulates signal transduction in FAs, which play an essential role in cell polarity, migration, and invasion. However, whether PDLIM7 is involved in FAs-associated signal transduction and its role in tumor invasion and metastasis remains largely unknown. Methods: A cohort of 80 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, as well as 512 PTC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas thyroid cancer database was utilized to analyze the expression of PDLIM7 and its association with prognosis. Survival data were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves, whereas clinicopathological characteristics such as age, sex, tumor size, multilocality, extrathyroidal extension, lymph metastases, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, distant metastasis, and TNM stage were considered. Functional assays were performed in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model to assess the role of PDLIM7 in PTC cell lines. The colocalization of PDLIM7 with FAK and integrin alpha V (ITGAV) was determined using immunofluorescence assay and immunoprecipitation assay. Protein expression levels in cell and tissue biopsies were measured through Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results: (1) The PDLIM7 protein frequently upregulated in both PTC tissues and cells, and overexpression of PDLIM7 is associated with advanced clinicopathological characteristics. (2) Knockdown of PDLIM7 effectively inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in PTC cell lines in vitro. (3) Knockdown of PDLIM7 hinders the growth and metastasis of TPC-1 xenografts in vivo. (4) PDLIM7 demonstrates colocalization with both FAK and the FA molecule ITGAV and the knockdown of PDLIM7 resulted in disassembly of FAs and proteosome-dependent degradation of FAK in PTC cell lines. Conclusions: PDLIM7 function as an oncoprotein in PTC to promote metastasis, and a novel underlying mechanism is proposed that PDLIM7 keeps FAK protein from proteosome-dependent degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The synthesis of natural or non-natural products in microorganisms frequently involves multiple genes or pathways. Enhancing and balancing the expression of these genes is essential to prevent growth inhibition and product synthesis blockage resulting from the accumulation of intermediate products, thereby effectively increasing the yield of target products. However, there is a deficiency in robust tools for balancing gene expression in Bacillus subtilis. Herein, we identified a 5′ UTR sequence that enhances gene expression levels. The library constructed from this sequence enables a broad spectrum of gene variations. Utilizing this library to construct a synthesized rib operon markedly boosts riboflavin production. Therefore, a novel 5′ UTR sequence was screened and characterized, supplementing the synthetic biology toolkit for B. subtilis. The application of synthetic biology tools to modulate gene expression to increase yield has been thoroughly demonstrated as an effective and convenient approach in industrial production. In this study, we employed a high-throughput screening strategy to identify a 5′ UTR sequence from the genome of B. subtilis 168. This sequence resulted in a 5.8-fold increase in the expression level of EGFP. By utilizing the 5′ UTR sequence to overexpress individual genes within the rib operon, it was determined that the genes ribD and ribAB serve as rate-limiting enzymes in the riboflavin synthesis pathway. Constructing a 5′ UTR library to regulate EGFP expression resulted in a variation range in gene expression levels exceeding 100-fold. Employing the same 5′ UTR library to regulate the expression of EGFP and mCherry within the operon led to a change in the expression ratio of these two genes by over 10,000-fold. So, employing a 5′ UTR library to modulate the expression of the rib operon gene and construct a synthetic rib operon resulted in a 2.09-fold increase in riboflavin production. These results indicate that the 5′ UTR sequence identified and characterized in this study can serve as a versatile synthetic biology toolkit for achieving complex metabolic network reconstruction. This toolkit can facilitate the fine-tuning of gene expression to produce target products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a pioneering multimodal fusion framework to enhance near-field 3D Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging, crucial for applications like radar cross-section measurement and concealed object detection. Traditional near-field 3D SAR imaging struggles with issues like target–background confusion due to clutter and multipath interference, shape distortion from high sidelobes, and lack of color and texture information, all of which impede effective target recognition and scattering diagnosis. The proposed approach presents the first known application of multimodal fusion in near-field 3D SAR imaging, integrating LiDAR and optical camera data to overcome its inherent limitations. The framework comprises data preprocessing, point cloud registration, and data fusion, where registration between multi-sensor data is the core of effective integration. Recognizing the inadequacy of traditional registration methods in handling varying data formats, noise, and resolution differences, particularly between near-field 3D SAR and other sensors, this work introduces a novel three-stage registration process to effectively address these challenges. First, the approach designs a structure–intensity-constrained centroid distance detector, enabling key point extraction that reduces heterogeneity and accelerates the process. Second, a sample consensus initial alignment algorithm with SHOT features and geometric relationship constraints is proposed for enhanced coarse registration. Finally, the fine registration phase employs adaptive thresholding in the iterative closest point algorithm for precise and efficient data alignment. Both visual and quantitative analyses of measured data demonstrate the effectiveness of our method. The experimental results show significant improvements in registration accuracy and efficiency, laying the groundwork for future multimodal fusion advancements in near-field 3D SAR imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The current clinical pulse lavage technique for flushing fresh osteochondral allografts (OCAs) to remove immunogenic elements from the subchondral bone is ineffective. This study aimed to identify the optimal method for removing immunogenic elements from OCAs. Methods: We examined five methods for the physical removal of immunogenic elements from OCAs from the femoral condyle of porcine knees. We distributed the OCAs randomly into the following seven groups: (1) control, (2) saline, (3) ultrasound, (4) vortex vibration (VV), (5) low‐pulse lavage (LPL), (6) high‐pulse lavage (HPL), and (7) high‐speed centrifugation (HSC). OCAs were evaluated using weight measurement, micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT), macroscopic and histological evaluation, DNA quantification, and chondrocyte activity testing. Additionally, the subchondral bone was zoned to assess the bone marrow and nucleated cell contents. One‐way ANOVA and paired two‐tailed Student's t‐test are used for statistical analysis. Results: Histological evaluation and DNA quantification showed no significant reduction in marrow elements compared to the control group after the OCAs were treated with saline, ultrasound, or VV treatments; however, there was a significant reduction in marrow elements after LPL, HPL, and HSC treatments. Furthermore, HSC more effectively reduced the marrow elements of OCAs in the middle and deep zones compared with LPL (p < 0.0001) and HPL (p < 0.0001). Macroscopic evaluation revealed a significant reduction in blood, lipid, and marrow elements in the subchondral bone after HSC. Micro‐CT, histological analyses, and chondrocyte viability results showed that HSC did not damage the subchondral bone and cartilage; however, LPL and HPL may damage the subchondral bone. Conclusion: HSC may play an important role in decreasing immunogenicity and therefore potentially increasing the success of OCA transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the seismic behavior of pile group bridges in inclined liquefiable soil and reveal the failure mechanism by conducting large-scale shaking table tests. Two bridge models were supported by two foundations: a group pile in an inclined liquefiable site and a rigid foundation. Typical results of the model test under a strong event (Tabas 0.3 g) are illustrated, and the effects of soil–group pile–bridge interaction are explored. The inertial and kinematic effects of the pile–pier curvature are evaluated, and the seismic failure mechanisms of the pile–bridge system are revealed. The results demonstrated that the near-pile shallow soil exhibited significant shear dilation response during the occurrence of strong earthquakes, which induced acceleration spikes for both soil and structure. The interaction state was soil pushing the pile and pile pushing the soil during the first and the subsequent strong earthquake, respectively, due to the bridge P−Δ effect. The liquefaction-induced lateral spreading increased the kinematic effect and reduced the inertial effect on the pile head curvature. In addition, the inertial effect on the pile curvature decreased gradually from the shallow layer to the middle of liquefiable soil, while the kinematic effect increased gradually. The results also demonstrated that the rigid foundation assumption overestimated the acceleration demand of the bridge during strong earthquakes; however, it seriously underestimated the lateral displacement. Finally, the lateral spreading shifted the vulnerable position of the pile group–pier system from the pier bottom to the pile head and bottom, and the leading piles sustained more damage than the trailing piles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Gonadal development and gametogenesis are key processes for fish genetic breeding. Particularly, reproductive development-related genes such as zygote arrest-1 (Zar1) and Wilms' tumor 1 (Wt1) play an important role in oogenesis, with the latter also involved in testicular development and gender differentiation. Here, the cDNA fragments of Lczar1 and Lcwt1b were identified in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer), a valuable hermaphrodite fish for studying sex reverse. Furthermore, their mRNA distributions in the cells of gonadal tissues were detected. Lczar1 mRNA was exclusively expressed in the ovary, while Lcwt1b mRNA was majorly expressed in the gonads in a higher amount in the testis than in the ovary. Specifically, Lczar1 mRNA was mainly concentrated in oogonia and oocytes at early stages in the ovary, but was undetectable in the testis. Lcwt1b mRNA was localized not only in gonadal somatic cells (testis and ovary), but also in female and male germ cells at the early developmental stages. Our study indicated that Lczar1 and Lcwt1b possibly play roles in gonadal development. Therefore, the findings of this study will provide a basis for clarifying the mechanism of Lczar1 and Lcwt1b in regulating germ cell development and the sex reverse of Asian seabass and even other hermaphroditic species. Zygote arrest-1 (Zar1) and Wilms' tumor 1 (Wt1) play an important role in oogenesis, with the latter also involved in testicular development and gender differentiation. Here, Lczar1 and Lcwt1b were identified in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer), a hermaphrodite fish, as the valuable model for studying sex differentiation. The cloned cDNA fragments of Lczar1 were 1192 bp, encoding 336 amino acids, and contained a zinc-binding domain, while those of Lcwt1b cDNA were 1521 bp, encoding a peptide of 423 amino acids with a Zn finger domain belonging to Wt1b family. RT-qPCR analysis showed that Lczar1 mRNA was exclusively expressed in the ovary, while Lcwt1b mRNA was majorly expressed in the gonads in a higher amount in the testis than in the ovary. In situ hybridization results showed that Lczar1 mRNA was mainly concentrated in oogonia and oocytes at early stages in the ovary, but were undetectable in the testis. Lcwt1b mRNA was localized not only in gonadal somatic cells (the testis and ovary), but also in female and male germ cells in the early developmental stages, such as those of previtellogenic oocytes, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids. These results indicated that Lczar1 and Lcwt1b possibly play roles in gonadal development. Therefore, the findings of this study will provide a basis for clarifying the mechanism of Lczar1 and Lcwt1b in regulating germ cell development and the sex reversal of Asian seabass and even other hermaphroditic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immunotherapy targeting PD-1/PD-L1 has revolutionized the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). However, clinical trials suggest differential efficacy of anti-PD-1 agents and anti-PD-L1 agents in first-line treatment of ES-SCLC. This retrospective multicenter study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1 agents versus anti-PD-L1 agents in first-line treatment of ES-SCLC in real-world practice. Methods: Patients with pathologically or cytologically confirmed ES-SCLC treated with platinum plus etoposide combined with anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 agents as first-line treatment in different centers of PLA General Hospital between January 2017 and October 2021 were included for this study. Survival outcomes and safety were compared between patients receiving anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 agents. Results: Of the total 154 included patients, 68 received anti-PD-1 agents plus chemotherapy (PD-1 group), and 86 received anti-PD-L1 agents plus chemotherapy (PD-L1 group). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in the entire cohort were 7.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.5–8.2 months) and 17.4 months (95% CI: 15.3–19.3 months), respectively. Median PFS and OS were comparable between the PD-1 group and PD-L1 group (PFS: 7.6 months vs. 8.3 months, HR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.79–1.62, p = 0.415; OS: 26.9 months vs. 25.6 months, HR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.63–1.47, p = 0.859. The objective response rate and disease control rate were comparable between the two groups: 79.4% vs. 79.1% and 92.6% vs. 94.2%, respectively. The 6-month, 12-month, and 18-month PFS and OS rates were slightly higher in the PD-L1 group than in the PD-1 group, while the 24-month PFS rate was slightly higher in the PD-1 group than in the PD-L1 group. Stratified analysis showed that locoregional thoracic radiotherapy and normal lactate dehydrogenase level were independent predictors of better OS in ES-SCLC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy plus ICI. Adverse events were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: Anti-PD-1 agents and anti-PD-L1 agents combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for ES-SCLC are comparably effective and well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid-β42 peptide (Aβ42) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and blood p-tau are valuable for differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) from cognitively normal (CN) there is a lack of validated biomarkers for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Objective: This study sought to determine how plasma and CSF protein markers compared in the characterization of MCI and AD status. Methods: This cohort study included Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants who had baseline levels of 75 proteins measured commonly in plasma and CSF (257 total, 46 CN, 143 MCI, and 68 AD). Logistic regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Random Forest (RF) methods were used to identify the protein candidates for the disease classification. Results: We observed that six plasma proteins panel (APOE, AMBP, C3, IL16, IGFBP2, APOD) outperformed the seven CSF proteins panel (VEGFA, HGF, PRL, FABP3, FGF4, CD40, RETN) as well as AD markers (CSF p-tau and Aβ42) to distinguish the MCI from AD [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.75 (plasma proteins), AUC = 0.60 (CSF proteins) and AUC = 0.56 (CSF p-tau and Aβ42)]. Also, these six plasma proteins performed better than the CSF proteins and were in line with CSF p-tau and Aβ42 in differentiating CN versus MCI subjects [AUC = 0.89 (plasma proteins), AUC = 0.85 (CSF proteins) and AUC = 0.89 (CSF p-tau and Aβ42)]. These results were adjusted for age, sex, education, and APOEϵ4 genotype. Conclusions: This study suggests that the combination of 6 plasma proteins can serve as an effective marker for differentiating MCI from AD and CN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemically converting CO2 back into fuels and chemicals is promising in alleviating the greenhouse effect worldwide. Various high‐efficiency catalysts have been achieved, yet the unsatisfied structural stability under CO2 electrolysis conditions restricts their practical application. Herein, a sub‐5 nm sized CuInS2 quantum dots (CIS‐QDs) based electrocatalyst for converting CO2 into CO are developed. Taking advantage of the stable M─Ch (metal‐chalcogenide) covalent bonds, and unique p‐block metal properties, the as‐prepared catalyst exhibits excellent structural stability under large overpotentials and can achieve a high CO Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 86% (total CO2 reduction FE of 89%) at −0.65 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode with long‐term durability of 40 h and outstanding current densities of 10.6 mA cm−2 simultaneously. Furthermore, detailed electrochemical analyses revealed that the excellent performance of the as‐prepared catalysts shall be attributed to the high‐density active sites and fast charge transfer brought by the ultrasmall size of CIS‐QDs. This work provides insights into the design of high‐density and stable catalytic sites for developing high‐performance electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An improved variational mode decomposition strategy based on particle swarm optimization is proposed to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. A fitness function based on permutation entropy and mutual information is developed to determine the optimized parameters in variational mode decomposition. • For the different excitation locations, the amplitude of the Rayleigh wave generated by laser irradiation on the defect is larger than on the small area around the defect, and the defect can be effectively detected using B-scans at elevated temperatures according to the abnormal evolution of Rayleigh waves. • For the same excitation locations, the amplitude of R waves gradually decreases at 100–300 °C and is consistent with the simulation, while it is opposite at 400–500 °C. Online monitoring is a critical issue for additive manufacturing components layer by layer to ensure the integrity of the structure. However, the rough surface and high temperature make it difficult to use conventional non-destructive testing methods to carry out. In this work, the laser ultrasonic technique, as a non-contact nondestructive testing method, is applied to detect defects in a 316L stainless steel specimen manufactured using selective laser melting at elevated temperatures. The unreported phenomenon of phase evolution of Rayleigh waves for different excitation locations and temperatures is observed and systematically explored using the finite element method and experiments. Furthermore, an improved variational mode decomposition strategy based on particle swarm optimization is proposed to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. A fitness function based on permutation entropy and mutual information is developed to determine the optimized parameters in variational mode decomposition. The experimental results indicate that, for the different excitation locations, the amplitude of the Rayleigh wave generated by laser irradiation on the defect is larger than on the small area around the defect, and the defect can be effectively detected using B-scans at elevated temperatures according to the abnormal evolution of Rayleigh waves; for the fixed excitation locations, the amplitude and velocity of Rayleigh waves gradually decreases at 100–500 °C, which will provide a scientific basis for online monitoring and evaluation of additive manufacturing components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The bp-MRI radiomics model was useful in distinguishing high-grade and low-grade bladder cancer. • For the 3 radiomic models, the predictive performance of the ADC combined with the T2WI model was better than that of the single-sequence model. • Radiomics model outperformed the traditional MRI model. To compare biparametric magnetic resonance imaging (bp-MRI) radiomics signatures and traditional MRI model for the preoperative prediction of bladder cancer (BCa) grade. This retrospective study included 255 consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed 113 low-grade and 142 high-grade BCa. The traditional MRI nomogram model was developed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression by the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), vesical imaging reporting and data system, tumor size, and the number of tumors. Volumes of interest were manually drawn on T 2 -weighted imaging (T 2 WI) and ADC maps by 2 radiologists. Using one-way analysis of variance, correlation, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator methods to select features. Then, a logistic regression classifier was used to develop the radiomics signatures. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to compare the diagnostic abilities of the radiomics and traditional MRI models by the DeLong test. Finally, decision curve analysis was performed by estimating the clinical usefulness of the 2 models. The area under the ROC curves (AUCs) of the traditional MRI model were 0.841 in the training cohort and 0.806 in the validation cohort. The AUCs of the 3 groups of radiomics model [ADC, T 2 WI, bp-MRI (ADC and T 2 WI)] were 0.888, 0.875, and 0.899 in the training cohort and 0.863, 0.805, and 0.867 in the validation cohort, respectively. The combined radiomics model achieved higher AUCs than the traditional MRI model. decision curve analysis indicated that the radiomics model had higher net benefits than the traditional MRI model. The bp-MRI radiomics model may help distinguish high-grade and low-grade BCa and outperforming the traditional MRI model. Multicenter validation is needed to acquire high-level evidence for its clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), a virulence factor produced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), poses a serious threat to human health. The rapid and sensitive detection of SEA is crucial for preventing the spread of contaminated food and safeguarding public health. The conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has encountered limitations in detecting SEA due to the false-positives caused by the combination of the Fc-terminus of the antibodies and staphylococcal protein A (SpA) and its insufficient sensitivity that fails to meet current detection requirements. Therefore, nanobodies (Nbs) without Fc-terminus can replace traditional antibodies to prevent false-positives. We developed a "one to two" sandwich ELISA based on identical capture Nbs and double detection phage-displayed Nbs (OtTNb ELISA), which achieved detection with an LOD of 0.43 ng/mL in a linear range of 0.5–512 ng/mL. The sensitivity was over 3.4 times higher than that of the sandwich ELISA based on mAbs, and the linear range exceeded over 8 times. The OtTNb ELISA was successfully applied to the cross-reactivity test and the actual recovery of the sample. This study provides a sensitive tool for detecting staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) in food and offers insights into developing detection methods for various foodborne pathogens and toxins. [Display omitted] • The first design of an"One to Two" sandwich ELISA based on identical capture Nbs and double detection phage-displayed Nbs. • Drastically increase the load of HRP and the antigen-antibody binding sites. • The sensitivity of this assay was over 3.4 times higher than that of the sandwich ELISA based on mAbs. • This assay was achieved detection of SEA with an LOD of 0.43 ng/mL and a linear range of 0.5–512 ng/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharide CSTPs extracted from Camellia sinensis tea-leaves possessed unique against oxidative damage by scavenging ROS. Herein, acid tea polysaccharide CSTPs-2 with tightly packed molecular structure was isolated, purified and characterized in this research. Furthermore, the effects of CSTPs-2 on ROS-involved inflammatory responses and its underlying mechanisms were investigated. The results suggest that CSTPs-2 dramatically reduced the inflammatory cytokines overexpression and LPS-stimulated cell damage. CSTPs-2 could trigger the dephosphorylation of downstream AKT/MAPK/NF-κB signaling proteins and inhibit nuclear transfer of p-NF-κB to regulate the synthesis and release of inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated cells by ROS scavenging. Importantly, the impact of CSTPs-2 in downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and mitigating ROS overproduction is associated with clathrin- or caveolae-mediated endocytosis uptake mechanisms, rather than TLR-4 receptor-mediated endocytosis. This study presents a novel perspective for investigating the cellular uptake mechanism of polysaccharides in the context of anti-inflammatory mechanisms. [Display omitted] • Acid tea polysaccharide CSTPs-2 with tightly packed molecular structure was obtained from Camellia sinensis. • CSTPs-2 also could suppress the inflammatory cytokines overexpression. • CSTPs-2 could inhibit ROS to block the AKT/MAPK/ NF-κB inflammation signaling pathway. • CSTPs-2 were uptaked by the clathrin- or caveolae-mediated-endocytotic pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although recombinant human TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) protein exhibits antitumor activity in a number of lung and liver cancer cells and tumor-bearing animals, TRAIL resistance has substantially restricted its clinical application. Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1) is a key enzyme in the regulation of proline synthesis. PYCR1 is highly expressed in various types of malignant tumor, in which it has been implicated in 5-fluorouracil resistance. However, the possible relationship between PYCR1 and TRAIL resistance remains unclear. In the present study, both reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting were performed. The results indicated that H1299 cells had higher PYCR1 expression levels and were less sensitive to TRAIL compared with the TRAIL-sensitive cell line, H460. PYCR1 knockdown in H1299 cells increased TRAIL sensitivity, increased the localization of death receptors (DRs) on the cell surface and activated Caspase-3/8. By contrast, overexpression of PYCR1 in H1299 cells decreased TRAIL sensitivity, reduced the distribution of DRs on the cell surface and suppressed the activation of Caspase-3/8. Taken together, these results suggested that PYCR1 promoted TRAIL resistance in the non-small cell lung cancer cell line, H1299, by preventing redistribution of DRs to the plasma membrane. This in turn inhibited TRAIL-mediated cell apoptosis by reducing the activation of Caspase-3/8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the transition of circular economy (CE) implementation from individual enterprises to CE agglomeration in industrial parks and at regional levels, with a focus on its potential for driving innovation towards achieving carbon neutrality. Measurement of CE agglomeration is generated from annual firm registration records from 2010 to 2015. For city-level carbon emissions, China High-Resolution Emission Database (CHRED) from 2015 to 2019 is used. Then, structural equation modeling with a propensity score matching is employed to validate our theoretical model for the CE agglomeration pathway and its impact on city-level carbon emissions. The findings indicate that strong manufacturing agglomeration in a city promotes the agglomeration of a larger number of CE firms. Regarding the pathway towards technological transition, the accumulation of human capital in large cities is identified as a significant factor that drives CE agglomeration. The relationship between CE and carbon emissions suggests that CE agglomeration is not hindered by negative environmental externalities and is, in fact, highly effective in reducing carbon emissions at the city level. Based on these findings, it is recommended that policymakers focus on promoting high-tech employment opportunities in large cities and identify regions with high manufacturing specialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of alkali-activated cementitious materials (AAM) reinforced with recycled carbon fiber (rCF) is of remarkable significance due to its cost-effectiveness compared to virgin carbon fiber, along with the sustainable reuse of solid waste serving as AAM. This study explores the integration of rCF and solid waste Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), aiming for cleaner construction practices. A novel approach involving a high-viscosity one-part GGBS slurry ensured homogeneous rCF dispersion, resulting in alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortars with outstanding overall performance at minimal dosage. At a minimum dosage of 0.1 vol%, rCF significantly enhanced flexural strength by 53.42% and reduced drying shrinkage by over 20%. The uniformly dispersed rCF acts as nucleation sites, boosting early compressive strength without compromising long-term performance. Furthermore, the connected rCF network established an exceptionally low percolation threshold (0.125 vol%) and demonstrated promising piezoelectric properties under cyclic loading, illustrating its potential as self-sensing concrete elements. Additionally, life cycle analysis (LCA) underscored the environmental benefits of rCF and GGBS, revealing their potential to remarkably cut carbon emissions (75.36%) and reduce costs (36.5%). These findings provide valuable insights into the development of rCF-reinforced self-sensing mortar with superior mechanical properties, showcasing the substantial potential of rCF in driving the construction industry toward carbon neutrality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide (NO) plays critical roles in both physiology and pathology, serving as a significant signaling molecule. Recent investigations have uncovered the pivotal role of lysosome as a critical organelle where intracellular NO exists and takes function. In this study, we developed a novel ratiometric fluorescent probe called XL-NO and modified it with a morpholine unit, which followed the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. The probe could detect lysosomal nitric oxide with high selectivity and sensitivity. The probe XL-NO contained a secondary amine moiety that could readily react with NO in lysosomes, leading to the formation of the N -nitrosation product. The N -nitroso structure enhanced the capability in push-pull electron, which obviously led to the change of fluorescence from 621 nm to 521 nm. In addition, XL-NO was discovered to have some evident advantages, such as significant ratiometric signal (I 521 /I 621) change, strong anti-interference ability, good biocompatibility, and a low detection limit (LOD = 44.3 nM), which were crucial for the detection of lysosomal NO. To evaluate the practical application of XL-NO , NO imaging experiments were performed in both living cells and zebrafish. The results from these experiments confirmed the feasibility and reliability of XL-NO for exogenous/endogenous NO imaging and lysosome targeting. [Display omitted] A ratiometric fluorescent probe has been successfully developed for monitoring lysosomal nitric oxide levels in both living cells and zebrafish. The probe can detect NO levels of lysosome with high sensitivity (LOD = 44.3 nM) and excellent selectivity. • A highly selective ratiometric fluorescent probe was developed to detect exogenous/endogenous NO in living cells. • Low detection limit in the detection of lysosomal NO among ratiometric fluorescent probes. • Low cytotoxicity for Hela and RAW 264.7 cells at working concentrations. • Excellent lysosomal localization was achieved in living cells. • Detection of endogenous NO in zebrafish was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was well known that SPOP is highly mutated in various cancers especially the prostate cancer and SPOP mutation dramatically impaired its tumor suppressive function. However, the detailed role and underlying mechanisms of SPOP in regulating the growth of gastric cancer is not fully studied. Here, we found that Cullin3SPOP promoted the ubiquitination and degradation of TIAM1 protein in gastric cancer setting. Gastric cancer and prostate cancer derived SPOP mutation failed to suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells partially due to the elevated level of TIAM1 protein. Notably, SPOP protein were negatively associated with TIAM1 protein in human gastric cancer tissue specimens. In conclusion, our results elucidate a molecular mechanism by which SPOP regulates the stability of TIAM1, and further demonstrate that SPOP inhibits the progression of gastric cancer by promoting the ubiquitination and degradation of TIAM1 protein. • High expression of TIAM1 promotes the biological behavior of gastric cancer. • Cullin3SPOP promoted the ubiquitination and degradation of TIAM1 protein in gastric cancer. • Gastric cancer and prostate cancer derived SPOP mutations cannot suppress tumorigenesis of gastric cancer. • SPOP inhibits tumorigenesis of gastric cancer partially through TIAM1 protein. • SPOP protein were negatively correlated with TIAM1 protein in human gastric cancer tissue [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to develop a multi-modality model to predict axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis by combining clinical predictors with radiomic features from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammography (MMG) in breast cancer. This model might potentially eliminate unnecessary axillary surgery in cases without ALN metastasis, thereby minimizing surgery-related complications.We retrospectively enrolled 485 breast cancer patients from two hospitals and extracted radiomics features from tumor and lymph node regions on MRI and MMG images. After feature selection, three random forest models were built using the retained features, respectively. Significant clinical factors were integrated with these radiomics models to construct a multi-modality model. The multi-modality model was compared to radiologists’ diagnoses on axillary ultrasound and MRI. It was also used to assist radiologists in making a secondary diagnosis on MRI.The multi-modality model showed superior performance with AUCs of 0.964 in the training cohort, 0.916 in the internal validation cohort, and 0.892 in the external validation cohort. It surpassed single-modality models and radiologists’ ALN diagnosis on MRI and axillary ultrasound in all validation cohorts. Additionally, the multi-modality model improved radiologists’ MRI-based ALN diagnostic ability, increasing the average accuracy from 70.70 to 78.16% for radiologist A and from 75.42 to 81.38% for radiologist B.The multi-modality model can predict ALN metastasis of breast cancer accurately. Moreover, the artificial intelligence (AI) model also assisted the radiologists to improve their diagnostic ability on MRI.The multi-modality model based on both MRI and mammography images allows preoperative prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients. With the assistance of the model, the diagnostic efficacy of radiologists can be further improved.• We developed a novel multi-modality model that combines MRI and mammography radiomics with clinical factors to accurately predict axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis, which has not been previously reported.• Our multi-modality model outperformed both the radiologists’ ALN diagnosis based on MRI and axillary ultrasound, as well as single-modality radiomics models based on MRI or mammography.• The multi-modality model can serve as a potential decision support tool to improve the radiologists’ ALN diagnosis on MRI.Methods: We aimed to develop a multi-modality model to predict axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis by combining clinical predictors with radiomic features from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammography (MMG) in breast cancer. This model might potentially eliminate unnecessary axillary surgery in cases without ALN metastasis, thereby minimizing surgery-related complications.We retrospectively enrolled 485 breast cancer patients from two hospitals and extracted radiomics features from tumor and lymph node regions on MRI and MMG images. After feature selection, three random forest models were built using the retained features, respectively. Significant clinical factors were integrated with these radiomics models to construct a multi-modality model. The multi-modality model was compared to radiologists’ diagnoses on axillary ultrasound and MRI. It was also used to assist radiologists in making a secondary diagnosis on MRI.The multi-modality model showed superior performance with AUCs of 0.964 in the training cohort, 0.916 in the internal validation cohort, and 0.892 in the external validation cohort. It surpassed single-modality models and radiologists’ ALN diagnosis on MRI and axillary ultrasound in all validation cohorts. Additionally, the multi-modality model improved radiologists’ MRI-based ALN diagnostic ability, increasing the average accuracy from 70.70 to 78.16% for radiologist A and from 75.42 to 81.38% for radiologist B.The multi-modality model can predict ALN metastasis of breast cancer accurately. Moreover, the artificial intelligence (AI) model also assisted the radiologists to improve their diagnostic ability on MRI.The multi-modality model based on both MRI and mammography images allows preoperative prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients. With the assistance of the model, the diagnostic efficacy of radiologists can be further improved.• We developed a novel multi-modality model that combines MRI and mammography radiomics with clinical factors to accurately predict axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis, which has not been previously reported.• Our multi-modality model outperformed both the radiologists’ ALN diagnosis based on MRI and axillary ultrasound, as well as single-modality radiomics models based on MRI or mammography.• The multi-modality model can serve as a potential decision support tool to improve the radiologists’ ALN diagnosis on MRI.Results: We aimed to develop a multi-modality model to predict axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis by combining clinical predictors with radiomic features from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammography (MMG) in breast cancer. This model might potentially eliminate unnecessary axillary surgery in cases without ALN metastasis, thereby minimizing surgery-related complications.We retrospectively enrolled 485 breast cancer patients from two hospitals and extracted radiomics features from tumor and lymph node regions on MRI and MMG images. After feature selection, three random forest models were built using the retained features, respectively. Significant clinical factors were integrated with these radiomics models to construct a multi-modality model. The multi-modality model was compared to radiologists’ diagnoses on axillary ultrasound and MRI. It was also used to assist radiologists in making a secondary diagnosis on MRI.The multi-modality model showed superior performance with AUCs of 0.964 in the training cohort, 0.916 in the internal validation cohort, and 0.892 in the external validation cohort. It surpassed single-modality models and radiologists’ ALN diagnosis on MRI and axillary ultrasound in all validation cohorts. Additionally, the multi-modality model improved radiologists’ MRI-based ALN diagnostic ability, increasing the average accuracy from 70.70 to 78.16% for radiologist A and from 75.42 to 81.38% for radiologist B.The multi-modality model can predict ALN metastasis of breast cancer accurately. Moreover, the artificial intelligence (AI) model also assisted the radiologists to improve their diagnostic ability on MRI.The multi-modality model based on both MRI and mammography images allows preoperative prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients. With the assistance of the model, the diagnostic efficacy of radiologists can be further improved.• We developed a novel multi-modality model that combines MRI and mammography radiomics with clinical factors to accurately predict axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis, which has not been previously reported.• Our multi-modality model outperformed both the radiologists’ ALN diagnosis based on MRI and axillary ultrasound, as well as single-modality radiomics models based on MRI or mammography.• The multi-modality model can serve as a potential decision support tool to improve the radiologists’ ALN diagnosis on MRI.Conclusion: We aimed to develop a multi-modality model to predict axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis by combining clinical predictors with radiomic features from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammography (MMG) in breast cancer. This model might potentially eliminate unnecessary axillary surgery in cases without ALN metastasis, thereby minimizing surgery-related complications.We retrospectively enrolled 485 breast cancer patients from two hospitals and extracted radiomics features from tumor and lymph node regions on MRI and MMG images. After feature selection, three random forest models were built using the retained features, respectively. Significant clinical factors were integrated with these radiomics models to construct a multi-modality model. The multi-modality model was compared to radiologists’ diagnoses on axillary ultrasound and MRI. It was also used to assist radiologists in making a secondary diagnosis on MRI.The multi-modality model showed superior performance with AUCs of 0.964 in the training cohort, 0.916 in the internal validation cohort, and 0.892 in the external validation cohort. It surpassed single-modality models and radiologists’ ALN diagnosis on MRI and axillary ultrasound in all validation cohorts. Additionally, the multi-modality model improved radiologists’ MRI-based ALN diagnostic ability, increasing the average accuracy from 70.70 to 78.16% for radiologist A and from 75.42 to 81.38% for radiologist B.The multi-modality model can predict ALN metastasis of breast cancer accurately. Moreover, the artificial intelligence (AI) model also assisted the radiologists to improve their diagnostic ability on MRI.The multi-modality model based on both MRI and mammography images allows preoperative prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients. With the assistance of the model, the diagnostic efficacy of radiologists can be further improved.• We developed a novel multi-modality model that combines MRI and mammography radiomics with clinical factors to accurately predict axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis, which has not been previously reported.• Our multi-modality model outperformed both the radiologists’ ALN diagnosis based on MRI and axillary ultrasound, as well as single-modality radiomics models based on MRI or mammography.• The multi-modality model can serve as a potential decision support tool to improve the radiologists’ ALN diagnosis on MRI.Clinical relevance statement: We aimed to develop a multi-modality model to predict axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis by combining clinical predictors with radiomic features from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammography (MMG) in breast cancer. This model might potentially eliminate unnecessary axillary surgery in cases without ALN metastasis, thereby minimizing surgery-related complications.We retrospectively enrolled 485 breast cancer patients from two hospitals and extracted radiomics features from tumor and lymph node regions on MRI and MMG images. After feature selection, three random forest models were built using the retained features, respectively. Significant clinical factors were integrated with these radiomics models to construct a multi-modality model. The multi-modality model was compared to radiologists’ diagnoses on axillary ultrasound and MRI. It was also used to assist radiologists in making a secondary diagnosis on MRI.The multi-modality model showed superior performance with AUCs of 0.964 in the training cohort, 0.916 in the internal validation cohort, and 0.892 in the external validation cohort. It surpassed single-modality models and radiologists’ ALN diagnosis on MRI and axillary ultrasound in all validation cohorts. Additionally, the multi-modality model improved radiologists’ MRI-based ALN diagnostic ability, increasing the average accuracy from 70.70 to 78.16% for radiologist A and from 75.42 to 81.38% for radiologist B.The multi-modality model can predict ALN metastasis of breast cancer accurately. Moreover, the artificial intelligence (AI) model also assisted the radiologists to improve their diagnostic ability on MRI.The multi-modality model based on both MRI and mammography images allows preoperative prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients. With the assistance of the model, the diagnostic efficacy of radiologists can be further improved.• We developed a novel multi-modality model that combines MRI and mammography radiomics with clinical factors to accurately predict axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis, which has not been previously reported.• Our multi-modality model outperformed both the radiologists’ ALN diagnosis based on MRI and axillary ultrasound, as well as single-modality radiomics models based on MRI or mammography.• The multi-modality model can serve as a potential decision support tool to improve the radiologists’ ALN diagnosis on MRI.Key Points: We aimed to develop a multi-modality model to predict axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis by combining clinical predictors with radiomic features from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammography (MMG) in breast cancer. This model might potentially eliminate unnecessary axillary surgery in cases without ALN metastasis, thereby minimizing surgery-related complications.We retrospectively enrolled 485 breast cancer patients from two hospitals and extracted radiomics features from tumor and lymph node regions on MRI and MMG images. After feature selection, three random forest models were built using the retained features, respectively. Significant clinical factors were integrated with these radiomics models to construct a multi-modality model. The multi-modality model was compared to radiologists’ diagnoses on axillary ultrasound and MRI. It was also used to assist radiologists in making a secondary diagnosis on MRI.The multi-modality model showed superior performance with AUCs of 0.964 in the training cohort, 0.916 in the internal validation cohort, and 0.892 in the external validation cohort. It surpassed single-modality models and radiologists’ ALN diagnosis on MRI and axillary ultrasound in all validation cohorts. Additionally, the multi-modality model improved radiologists’ MRI-based ALN diagnostic ability, increasing the average accuracy from 70.70 to 78.16% for radiologist A and from 75.42 to 81.38% for radiologist B.The multi-modality model can predict ALN metastasis of breast cancer accurately. Moreover, the artificial intelligence (AI) model also assisted the radiologists to improve their diagnostic ability on MRI.The multi-modality model based on both MRI and mammography images allows preoperative prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients. With the assistance of the model, the diagnostic efficacy of radiologists can be further improved.• We developed a novel multi-modality model that combines MRI and mammography radiomics with clinical factors to accurately predict axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis, which has not been previously reported.• Our multi-modality model outperformed both the radiologists’ ALN diagnosis based on MRI and axillary ultrasound, as well as single-modality radiomics models based on MRI or mammography.• The multi-modality model can serve as a potential decision support tool to improve the radiologists’ ALN diagnosis on MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is a European Union regulation that aims to protect human health and the environment from the risks posed by chemicals. Article 25 clearly states that: " [i]n order to avoid animal testing, testing on vertebrate animals for the purposes of this Regulation shall be undertaken only as a last resort. " In practice, however, the standard information requirements under REACH are still primarily filled using animal studies. This paper presents examples illustrating that animal testing is not always undertaken only as a last resort. Six over-arching issues have been identified which contribute to this: (1) non-acceptance of existing animal or non-animal data, (2) non-acceptance of read-across, (3) inflexible administrative processes, (4) redundancy of testing, (5) testing despite animal welfare concerns and (6) testing for cosmetic-only ingredients. We, members of the Animal-Free Safety Assessment (AFSA) Collaboration, who work together to accelerate the global adoption of non-animal approaches for chemical safety assessment, herein propose several recommendations intended to aid the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency and registrants to protect human health and the environment while avoiding unnecessary animal tests - truly upholding the last resort requirement in REACH. [Display omitted] • Animal testing as a last resort is a key pillar of the REACH regulation. • The acceptance of non-animal approaches under REACH is low. • The last resort requirement should be the primary consideration under REACH. • Case examples where animal testing was not used as a last resort are described. • Recommendations for governance and enforcement are provided to all stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Greater Khingan and Yanshan mountain ranges in northern China not only constitute a significant physical obstacle to the northward movement of monsoon circulation, but also represent a natural barrier for human migration and cultural interactions between in-migrating Paleolithic populations and those indigenous to East Asia during the Late Pleistocene. We dated two Paleolithic sites, Yangzhuangxishan and Taiziling, located in the southern piedmont of the Yanshan Mountains with artifacts typified by simple core and flake technology associated with foraging populations, to ∼39–29 ka and ∼ 52–47 ka respectively, using the optically stimulated luminescence dating method. Our results indicate that northern China as far south as the Yanshan Mountains was occupied mainly by autochthonous East Asian Paleolithic populations using a core and flake lithic technology, although during this period Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) modern humans and Mousterian populations dispersed into East Asia. By synthesizing and integrating the ages of Northeast Asian Paleolithic sequences during the last glacial period (ca. 70–10 ka), we analyzed spatio-temporal variations in Late Pleistocene human populations during relatively cold stadial events (MIS 4 & 2) and warmer interstadials (e.g., MIS 3), revealing an "ebb and flow" pattern for migrations of Western IUP/Mousterian populations and indigenous core and flake technology populations in East Asia corresponding to the advance and retreat of the East Asian monsoon regime. The subsequent extremely cold climate phase engendered a major population shift during the Last Glacial Maximum (ca. 26.5–19 ka) which drove the reduction of both these Paleolithic populations, but afterward facilitated the emergence and rapid dispersal of microlithic technologies in East Asia. The peoples associated with microlithic technologies achieved their maximum geographical extent after the Bølling-Allerød Late Glacial interstadial event (ca. 14.7–12.9 ka) and then gradually decreased, perhaps due to the development of agriculture after ∼13 ka with concomitant increasing settlement stability. • Two Paleolithic sites on the Yanshan Mountains were dated using OSL method. • Migrations of Western and indigenous populations correspond to monsoonal fluctuations. • The cold LGM climate engendered a major population shift. • Microblade populations decreased after ∼13 ka due to initiation of agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel sea urchin like nanostructure as a bifunctional catalyst for overall water splitting. • Anchoring Pt atoms on WO 3 nanoarrays is very important for boosting the activity. • The Pt 2 /WO 3 demonstrate excellent HER activity (77 mV@10 mA cm−2 vs RHE). • The Pt 2 /WO 3 demonstrate OER activity (126 mV@10 mA cm−2 vs RHE). • This catalyst showed stability for 100 h and 1.4418 V@10 mA cm−2 towards overall water splitting. The aim of this study is to construct a high-activity platinum-anchored WO 3 electrocatalyst and investigate the effect of platinum content on the catalytic performance. This strategy compared the electrocatalytic performance under acidic conditions by discussing the platinum content and significantly enhances the electrocatalytic activity through nanoscale structure creation and electronic synergies. Therefore, anchoring Pt atoms on WO 3 nanoarrays is very important for boosting the activity and stability of electrocatalysis via a hydrothermal co-precipitation approach, Pt x /WO 3 @NF (x = 0.1 mmol∼0.3 mmol) named as Pt 1 /WO 3 , Pt 2 /WO 3 and Pt 3 /WO 3 , which enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities. The prepared Pt 2 /WO 3 @NF microspheres showed excellent electrocatalytic activity. When the current density was 10 mA cm−2, the HER overpotential was 77 mV, the OER overpotential was 126 mV, and the two-electrode water decomposition voltage was 1.4418 V. The bifunctional catalyst shows excellent stability, with virtually no decay in the curves after 100 h stability tests. In addition, nanosheet surface has abundant defects and interface structure, which can maintain excellent conductivity of catalyst and expose more active sites clarify the increased H 2 adsorption for HER activity enhancement. The synthesis of a bifunctional electrocatalyst with both HER and OER properties, presents a novel and intriguing concept that contributes to the advancement of green hydrogen development. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]